Category: Early Childhood

PK-12 Family Mass

Congratulations to all students and families for the excellent start to the year. The joy and happiness emanating from our students is a testimony to the collaboration with families in the faith and learning environment that is developing at our College. Our PK- 12 Family Mass has now become tradition that exemplifies our commitment as a community to celebrate our identity that places Jesus Christ at its centre. Thank you to students and their families for their attendance and participation in the liturgy. The family spirit that was evident is an exemplar of what it means to be part of a Marist community. Congratulations to our Year 12 and Year 6 student leaders respectively who were commissioned on the night into their roles for 2019. We look forward to the year ahead.

ICSEI Symposium Norway January 2019

In early January Ms Lisa Fogliani and I were invited to co-present with the University of Southern Queensland Leadership Research International (USQLRI) a symposium on the development and implementation of our College’s Vision for Learning Shine Through Discovery – Let Your light Shine (Matthew 5:16). The International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI) is an internationally renowned meeting of policy makers, research and practioners in education focusing on best practice in learning. To be selected to present is a great testimony to our school improvement agenda in building our student experience of learning animated by our pedagogical pillars of Challenge, Collaborate, Create and Celebrate. The reception of the symposium participants was affirming and complimentary of what we have achieved over the least three years. Critical to our growth has been in aligning our strategic framework with the following strategic intents:

• individual and team building of staff capacity
• a strategic approach to staff professional learning
• focus on growing innovative cultures for school change
• engaging student voice in their learning
• systematic delivery of curriculum
• new contemporary learning spaces reflective of pedagogical pillars
• sustaining commitment and energy of whole school community
• ongoing leadership and management of #shinethroughdiscovery
• captivating creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship

The alignment of these aforementioned strategic intents, put simply, has improved our students’ learning experience. Our learning pathways are guided by the capacity of students to engage in their learning collaborating with our teachers, commensurate with their interest and ability. This has been exemplified in senior school where student goal setting and achievement, combined with subject counselling, has provided a more targeted approach to each student’s pathway. Our outstanding WACE results last year, particularly our median ATAR of 84.5, reflected the importance of this strategy.

The highlight of the conference was in both the staff and student voice examples we presented. Unscripted, our students’ voice demonstrated the growth in their confidence to articulate what is important to them in their learning and the impact of Shine Through Discovery – Let Your light Shine (Matthew 5:16). The same is apparent for our staff who have embraced the concept that they lead learning as co-learners with our students.

Click here to watch the student video.

Click here to watch the staff video.

The driving question from the feedback to the symposium was on the strategy not just for consolidation, but for ongoing improvement.

Focus for 2019

Our focus in 2019 is to continue to build the capacity of the teacher and animate student voice. The opportunities that are afforded to students through recent initiatives, like the IDEAs Lab in Early Childhood, STEM Festival at Lavalla and Solve It at Marcellin will continue to grow and gain traction with our students. Long term support through Homework Club and targeting intervention in literacy and numeracy will continue to grow. Other examples include developing industry partnerships to provide real world experience for our students. An example has been an agreement we have just confirmed with the mining company MACA. This partnership is focused on providing students with opportunities across engineering, service and apprenticeships.

Annual School Improvement Plan 2019

The Annual School Improvement Plan (ASIP) 2019 will continue to focus on our Vision for Learning and its animation across the College. Central to its success will be the leadership of our staff in its actioning. Please click here to view the College plans for this year.

Vision for Learning Shine through Discovery – Let your light shine (Matthew 5:16) in 2019

At the start of the school year, we reflect on the wonderful achievements of the year before; the Graduating Class of 2018. It is fitting that as a College community we do this to express our recognition and gratitude to teaching and support staff who have supported and guided the students throughout their schooling. We also recognise the individual and collective effort from students and their families; particularly as they encounter times of assessment, challenge and celebration. The success of the Class of 2018 extends beyond their notable academic achievements. The students demonstrated their commitment to College life by immersing themselves in the wide and varied opportunities afforded to them; using their gifts and talents for the betterment of the College community. In this new year, I encourage all students and families across our PK-12 community to be involved in the many opportunities provided at the College which aim to develop and support the learning and wellbeing of all our students.

Professional Learning

I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to all teaching and non-teaching staff in their preparation for the 2019 academic year. The College staff celebrated the Eucharist together and engaged in a series of professional learning workshops facilitated by College staff and external facilitators as well as preparing their classrooms for Day 1. The dedication and commitment of all staff is truly inspirational and has ensured a very smooth start to the year. We also welcomed new staff members to our Newman family and wish them a successful transition to our community. New staff participated in faith formation professional learning titled, In the Marist Way, which introduced them to our Marist story.

Parent Teacher Communication Protocol

At Newman College, all teachers have made a commitment that any formal, summative assessments are marked and shared with students and parents no later than within two weeks. Teachers from Marian and Lavalla Campuses utilise Seesaw to provide parents with feedback as well as returning marked work samples to students. On the Marcellin Campus, the marks are released on SEQTA within this two-week time frame and assessments are returned to students. Feedback from class activities and daily lessons are presented to students in a variety of different forms and all families can expect feedback for learning regularly across the term. Timely feedback is vital in the learning cycle for all students.

The College expects that teachers will respond to email communication within two working days. Teachers are not able to respond within one day as they are teaching classes, marking assessments, planning lessons, on yard duty or taking co-curricular activities. I ask parents to accept these timelines as reasonable turnaround times in the busyness of College life. If there is an urgent matter that needs to be acknowledged, a phone call to the Leader of Wellbeing may be the most appropriate avenue.

Newman Parents

The College is honoured to be hosting Dr Justin Coulson, one of Australia’s most respected relationships speakers, authors, and researchers to support our Newman Parents. Dr Coulson will be presenting two sessions on Monday 25 March:

9 Ways to a Resilient Child, 9.00am in the Marist Auditorium (This session is for Early Childhood parents only)

Parents will learn the psychological secrets that build their child’s sense of identity, strengths and growth mindset in order to perform better, be happier and build resilience. Click here to read more.

Respectful Relationships – Love at Home, 7.00pm in the Marist Auditorium

In this session, you’ll learn the best ‘relationship rules’ for a happier family so home life really does feel loving… most of the time followed by a Question and Answer session. Click here to read more.

High Achievers Assembly

We extend our congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2018! High achieving students will be welcomed back for an assembly next week where they will share their strategies for success with students from Years 10 – 12. Our thanks extends to the teachers who have fostered a love of learning throughout the schooling journey of all students; especially to the teachers of Year 11 and 12 courses. Positive partnership and collaboration between families and the College is essential to quality relationships and success. Thank you to all parents and families for working so closely with the College. Click here to review the results from the 2018 graduates.

Code of Conduct

A reminder to all families that the Code of Conduct can be accessed via the College website. The Code is mandated by Catholic Education Western Australia and the application of the code extends to all staff, students, parents, guardians, caregivers and volunteers.

The Code seeks to value the dignity of every person, foster positive relationships, ensure confidentiality and accountability and support professional boundaries. Events held during school hours AND outside of school hours that are associated with the College are also supported by the Code of Conduct. Any perceived breaches of the Code can be discussed with any member of the Senior Leadership Team. We thank you in advance for your understanding and support of how we strive to partner positively with one another.

The Code of Conduct will be spoken to at Campus and Year group Information Evenings in the weeks ahead.

Updating Family Contact Details

If there are any changes to your contact numbers, email address or home address, please ensure you advise the College Registrar via registrar@newman.wa.edu.au This will ensure your child’s enrolment record contains the most up to date details.

Food Allergy Reminder

As a result of recent news relating to the dangers of food allergies, Newman College would like to offer a reminder to all families. Newman College is a ‘Nut Aware’ school. It is NOT nut free. Families should be advised that the College cannot guarantee the absence of all nut products or traces of nuts within food across the College. Parents are strongly encouraged to speak with their child discouraging the sharing of food with others. It is pertinent that parents of any child with an identified allergy has completed a Medical Action Plan and discussed this with their child’s teacher. The College Canteen does provide a ‘Nut Aware’ service, but cannot guarantee that food and beverages served from the Canteen do not contain traces of Nuts, Crustaceans, Fish, Milk, Eggs, Sesame, Soybean and Wheat. If families are reliant on the Canteen for the provision of food and beverages to a child WITH an allergy, they are advised to contact the Canteen Manager, Donna McFadden. The Canteen is available daily for children of the College. For details please click here.